Truth

Proclaiming God's Truth

In today's age of acceptance and tolerance, it is not easy or popular to disagree with others. It seems that the one truth everyone must bow to is that everybody has the right to their own beliefs, and what's true for one may not be true for another. To suggest that someone else could be wrong, or worse, to claim that there is such a thing as ultimate, absolute truth, is highly offensive in our culture.

But how can everything be true? That seems to be a contradiction in logic, if we agree with Webster that truth can be defined as “fact, the state of something being the case”.or as “actuality, the body of real things, events, or facts.” Jesus claimed to be the truth, not just a truth (John 14:6). He regularly spoke of telling the truth to his listeners (for example, Matt. 5:18, 26; Mark 10:15, 29; Luke 21:3, 32; John 3:3–11; 16:7–23). So what God communicated through Christ is extraordinarily important and must not be compromised.

But as Jude demonstrates, not all who begin to follow God's truth finish well:

• When Israel fled from Egypt, some disbelieved—and died (Jude 5; Num. 14:26–45).
• Some angels turned away from God and were banished from their positions (Jude 6; Matt. 25:41; 2 Pet. 2:4).
• Sodom and Gomorrah stand as evidence that sin can bring about destruction (Jude 7; Gen. 13:10–19:28).
• Cain chose selfishness, greed, hatred, and murder (Jude 11; Gen. 4:3–8).
• Balaam gave in to error and lost his clarity regarding the truth of God (Jude 11; Num. 22–24; 2 Pet. 2:15–16).
• Korah mistakenly opposed God's leaders and paid for it dearly (Jude 11; Num. 16).

God's people are not called to be bigots who flaunt their connection with the truth. But we are called to be loyal to the truth of Christ, and we should challenge people to avoid anything less than what God offers (Jude 17–23). We're not to be a “truth squad,” inflated with our own importance. But neither are we to be Milquetoasts who will agree to anything for the sake of peace. No, we must proclaim God's truth with mercy (Jude 22) to those who will perish without it (Jude 23).

Sorting Out the Truth

It seems as if everybody has one thing or another to sell. Even teachers try to persuade us to accept their ideas and claims about what is true. But when it comes to matters of faith, it's wise to remain slightly skeptical, especially if someone claims to be God's special envoy to you.

Paul warned young project leader Timothy about exactly that sort of activity—false doctrines, myths, and endless genealogies (1 Tim. 1:3–4). Here and in other passages, Paul gave guidelines for sorting out and testing what people say about faith issues and practices:

• Do they call for the practice of love (1 Tim. 1:5)?
• Are they ambitious, striving for esteem and acclaim through their teaching (1 Tim. 1:6–7)?
• Does their message promote internal moral standards that produce good behavior (1 Tim. 1:8–10)?
• Is there evidence of a radical change for the better because of their walk with Christ (1 Tim. 1:12–14)?
• Do they offer humble thanksgiving to God for what they have received (1 Tim. 1:15–17)?
• Does their position build on the wisdom of predecessors (1 Tim. 1:18–20)? (Paul contrasts those who called Timothy with two others whom he condemns.)

When people make claims about spiritual things, weigh their words carefully against standards like these. Others around you may criticize any form of doubting, questioning, or evaluation. If so, they need to consider Paul's teaching in this passage. Scripture invites careful examination of statements about spiritual things so that we will distinguish what is from God and will last.

For more on this topic, see OPENNESS, “Discerning the Truth”. STANDARDS, “Needed: A Definitive Standard,”.